Improvement in windmills



2Sheets-Sheet2.` C. H. S.I CLAIR.

Wind-Mills.

-No.\5l,932. A Paterftedlune9,1874.

NT STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT-IN WINDMILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,932, dated June 9, 1874; application filed April 17, i874.

the centrifugal-acting regulating` ball-rods,

of fixed stops arranged directly upon the rods which carry the balls, whereby, when the balls are thrown outward by the speed of the wheel, the said iixed stops are brought in contact with the inner side of the rim, and thus arrest the outward movement ofthe balls, the employment of the rim and the ball-rods for this purpose avoiding; the necessityT of separate devices for effecting the same result, and rendering the wheel less expensive and cumbrous. Also, in the combination of links pivoted separately to the corners -of the vanes and to the spider, with links pivoted to the separate bell-cranks of the ball-rods, whereby both the ball-rods and the vanes are connected and operated by couplings free from all binding action, and in which the action of each coupling` assists that of the other to render the disconnected vanes and the ball-rods controllable by the aame spider, to which they are separately attached, the design of the invent-ion being to aibrd, by the separate couplings for the ball-rods and the vanes, great facility for replacing either of these parts without disturbing the others, and to render the working of the vanes free, and without being encnmbered by the working of the weighted regulating-rods.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents afront elevation of a wind-wheel embracing my invention. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3, Sheet 2, a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a plan or top view, thereof.

The tower or frame A, supporting the revolving platform or turn-table B, movable 011 a stationary platform, C, which is provided with rollers D, to center and hold the turntable in place, and with lower tracks upon which travel Wheels fitted on pendent arms E affixed to the revolving platform, is substantially the same as in my patent referred to. The directing-vane or tail F, attached to the supporting or revolving platform, is also afeature common to all mills of this description. The horizontal power-shaft G is journaled in boxes aiiixed to the revolving platform, and carries at its outer end a hub, H, preferably of a skeleton form, to diminish its weight, from which hub radiate arms I, to the outer extremities of which is attached a continuons rim, K, which parts together form the frame of the wheel. In the periphery of the hub are formed a series of radial sockets, a, forming the inner pivot-bearings for the arms I of the vanes M, the outer ends of which arms are tted in sockets in the wheel-rim. rlhe powershaft G is provided with a central crank or eccentric, to which is connected, in any suitable manner, the piston-rod of a pump, for transmitting a reciprocating movement to the piston of the same, as in my said patent. A iiy-wheel, N, is afiixed to the rear end of the power-shaft, which serves to equalize the movement of said shaft by accumulating power for varying or intermittent revolutions caused by fluctuations in the wind. A spider, O, sleeved on the power-shaft in rear of the wheel, is provided with pivoted links or rods P, which are also pivoted to an ear projecting from the rear side of the vane or sail, near its base and to one side of its axis. On the sleeve or hub of the spider O is located a swivel-ring, Q, to whch is pivoted a yoke, R, embracingthe power-shaft, and connected by one .end with the revolving platform by a pivotedI link, b, and by the other end with a transverse elbow or crank-lever, S. This transverse bearing is provided with an arm, c, projecting therefrom, and to which is connected the rod c, which eX- tends downward to a suitable distance for operating the same. When the wind is moderate the action of the wheel is continuous and steady, but during the prevalence of a gale itis desirable to arrest the movement of the wheel,

y and for effecting this result it is only necessary to pull the card c, when, through the medium of the pivoted yoke B, connectingrod b, and spider O, connected with the vanes by the links above referred to, the vanes will be turned on their axes, causing their edges to be presented to the wind, thus feathering the same, and arresting the movement of the wheel.

In certain cases the attendant of the mill is not prepared, or at his post, for arresting the movement of the mill, and, as the sudden advent of a gale may cause serious damage to the operative parts, I have found it necessary to employ automatic means for accomplishing the arrest of the mill, and for this purpose I provide a series of weighted balls, T, of a suitable size, which are attachedto the outer ends of rods U, Whose inner ends are connected with elbow-cranks V, to which links W, connecting the same with the sliding spider, are

i attached. The rods U, carrying the weighted balls T and the elbow-cranks V, are arranged between the contiguous edges of thevanes, thus placing said parts in a position where they will not interfere with the action ofthe latter.- The action of said weighted balls is such that during a moderate wind they will, by reason of their gravity and centrifugal force, caused by the revolution ofthe Wheel, increase the power and velocity ot the wheel within a safe limit, but during the prevalence of a gale they will,

,by reason of its too great velocity, cause the balls to be thrown in an outward direction from the rim of the Wheel, the outward movement of the balls being limited by means of stops on the carrying-rods U, which act against the inner side oi' the rim of the wheel. The

f balls, when actuated as described, will cause hand, and returned to its original position for exerting suflicient pressure upon the spider, to hold the same in position when the wheel 4is in operation. r

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the inclosing-rim K, and the centrifugal-acting regulating ball-rods T U, with the stops yi arranged directly upon the rods which carry the balls, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The conlbination, with the spider O, of the links P, pivoted separately to the corners ot' the vanes M, and the links XV, pivoted separately to the bell-cranks V, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of January, A. D. 1874.

`CHARLES H. ST. CLAIR.

NVitnesses:

(Enns. MILLER, R. NV. MITCHELL. 

